The Akwa Ibom state government in Nigeria has signed a road construction contract, worth NGN12.03bn (US$79.96mn), with Chinese company China Civil Engineering and Construction. Under the terms of the contract, the Chinese company will be responsible for the construction of a 12km-long road linking Ibesikpo and Asutan council area. The company is expected to complete the project in 18 months.

Nigeria's inadequate infrastructure has been described as one of the key impediments to the country's growth, and the government is working towards improving the road network. The federal government, with the assistance of the World Bank, is implementing the US$2bn Federal Roads Development Project, which indentifies priority investment projects in the federal road network, over a 10-year period. Project funding includes US$333mn from the World Bank.